The Advent Book Blog is now in its third year and this is my second year participating (if I recall correctly). This year I’ve recommended The Virgin Cure by Ami McKay, but there are now hundreds of titles and authors recommended by readers with a Digital Handsell. Go check it out and read / share / buy an awesome book!

I had the opportunity to meet Ami McKay at a recent reading called Incite: An Exploration of Books and Ideas, organized by the Vancouver International Writers Festival and the Vancouver Public Library. The event was fantastic (as always) and Ami was super sweet. I had an ARC of The Virgin Cure which she signed and she even knew who I was from Twitter! How awesome is that?

Incite (November 9): Hal Wake fields questions for Ami McKay and Frances Greenslade

There is a whole whack of people involved now, from a Board of Directors, award tabulators, judges, blog topic generators, and giveaway moderators. I commend and applaud all those helping out with BBAW—it’s a great event run by and for the book blogging community. I am truly proud to be involved, even in just a tiny little way.

The office is just on the cusp of Gastown but outside the city centre. The area is very up-and-coming with the new W2 Woodwards development including SFU, London Drugs, and Nester’s Market.

New and old Ws at Woodwards | Gassy Jack in Historic Gastown

Soon, it’ll be part of a new business district called “Hastings Crossing”. I figured that this was as good a time as any to highlight some of the local businesses that I frequent and hope to continue to support.

Bambo Café
This is absolutely my favourite lunch spot. Everything I’ve tried has been delicious, fresh, and well-priced for the large portions. I know I can spend less than $10 on lunch and be nice and full until dinner time. I love the sandwiches and their homemade soups. My favourites are tuna melt because they put fresh dill in the tuna and this amazing butternut squash soup. To die for.

Butternut Squash soup and grilled veggie sandwich at Bambo Cafe

Deadly Couture
Speaking of dying… but not really… is the alternative shop Deadly Couture full of goth/punk/rockabilly fashion and accessories. They carry my favourite brand of hair dye here: Special Effects. The colour is super intense and lasts for a really long time. I also love.love.love all the fashion accessories and clothing style.

Dressew
I’ve been going to Dressew for years — it is a crafty person’s dream come true. The whole basement is filled with discount fabrics and notions galore, the main floor is costuming, some discontinued yarn and fabric fabric fabric. Dressew celebrated its 50th anniversary in March of this year and the Vancouver Courier ran an awesome article. It’s true you can find a zipper to match any fabric, fringe to adorn anything, and even genuine leather scraps. They told me that in addition to two full floors, Dressew has a sub-basement for stock and an additional off-site storage facility.

Old Faithful Shop
Relative newcomer to the area, I cannot resist going into the shop regularly. The style embraces au natural design with unfinished wood, unbleached fabrics, and sustainable materials. Old Faithful has amazing home decor (think shabby-chic, eco-cabin) with a down-to-earth, organic, homegrown feel. It was the hanging glass terrariums that inspired me to write this article about how to make a terrarium for GardenWise Online.

Hitz Boutique
Another ‘alternative’ style clothing shop in the area, they always have hilarious baby clothes in the window. But what I really love is that they carry several brands that are mostly found in Kits and Point Grey. My favourite turquoise jacket is made by a company called Orb and I bought it at Hitz Boutique. Also, the staff are fantastic, friendly and helpful. One of them even remembered—nearly a year later—that I was “the one who bought the turquoise jacket.”

ButtonButton
You may think with Dressew just around the corner that ButtonButton would go out of business. In truth, it’s the skyrocketing rent for retail space in the downtown core that nearly did in this cute, tiny little shop. Sure, Dressew may have tons of buttons… but most of them are fairly common. What about the uncommon buttons, the buttons that turn heads, the buttons that make you squeal with delight as you find a replacement for your favourite jacket? ButtonButton has all these kinds of buttons and more.

Olla Urban Flower Project & Shop
Even though I have a mottled green-black thumb (I only succeed half of the time), I love Olla Flowers. I love their design aesthetic as well as their concept. They create arrangements and living containers using sustainable resources, local and ethically-traded plants and even recycled and/or repurposed containers. They also work with corporate and non-profit groups to compost, re-home event decor, and even hold monthly workshops.

Also in the area is Academie Duello, where I’ve recently begun taking lessons. This makes the history geek in me very happy and it’s surprisingly quite a good workout!

Physically, I am bumping into things and bashing myself by accident. It’s like I have an issue with depth perception. I tried to put on my shoes today and kicked the wall. I went to close a door and accidentally punched the wall. I’ve broken at least 4 fingernails by catching them on things. This could be a serious problem considering I’m taking sword fighting lessons. I’m also concerned since I’ve been working on sewing projects. Hopefully I can dial 9-1-1 before I pass out from lack of blood. Death by sewing machine… kinda funny.

Mentally, I have been having trouble speaking, mixing words up, and my spelling has gone out the window. My reading skills are also suffering, but that may also be the spelling issue or my non-existent dyslexia. I typed “dying” instead of “dyeing”, read “touting” as “touching” and “viral” as “virus”, and often leaving out transitional words such as “the” and “with”, thus changing a sentence completely.

So now I’m sitting here, wondering what I should do so that I’ll be safe from myself. Knitting would inevitably result in a giant yarn tangle or dropped stitches, I already explained the fear of the sewing machine, and anything that involves movement or speed such as riding my bike is out. That leaves books, movies, and the internet.

Books: I’ve finished Voyager by Diana Gabaldon and need to write up a review. Before that I read a few graphic novels that I need to post reviews for. Now I’m into the second book of the Song of Ice and Fire series by George R.R. Martin, A Clash of Kings.

Movies: I watched Sense & Sensibility (1995) last night with Kate Winslett, Alan Rickman, Hugh Grant, Hugh Laurie, and Emma Thompson. Wow what a cast. I haven’t read the book, but I enjoyed the movie. I think the romance story lines were very similar to Pride & Prejudice (class, society, rumours, reputation) but that the character interactions weren’t as strong. However, the cast was amazing and I did enjoy the movie immensely. Did I mention that I did end up watching the BBC mini-series of Pride & Prejudice with Colin Firth? Awesome! I love Colin Firth so much.

Speaking of movies, I just went on IMDB.com and discovered a Footloose remake. Watch the trailer here. Umm… I’m not sure how I feel about this, and I’m concerned it’s just going to be some sort of hip-hop debacle. Footloose is the 80s and Kevin Bacon. Can you imagine someone trying to remake Ferris Bueller’s Day Off without Matthew Broderick? Or Pretty in Pink without Molly Ringwald? No! It just wouldn’t work.

Television: I’ve been watching HBO’s The Game of Thrones, which is based on the Song of Ice and Fire series by George R.R. Martin. HBO is so awesome and I am loving it so far. It’s pretty much 98% perfect, and I’m guessing that’s because George R.R. Martin is one of the executive producers.

Internet: There are lots of great things I’ve found recently. If you follow me on Twitter, I usually share them there. But here are a couple gems.

• Bloggess’ “Pick your Battles” — I laughed so hard I wasn’t making a sound and tears were streaming down my cheeks.
• Dear Photograph — A really neat project, taking photos of old photos in their original location.
• A Stranger A Day — A Vancouverite is chatting up strangers about tattoos, daily
• The Slave Lake Book Auction, which I mentioned before, wrapped up last week with a total of $4,909 in donations to the library!
• The Bank of Canada is rolling out new bills made of polymer (plastic) and our money will look even more like Monopoly money.
• Book Blogger Appreciation Week 2011 has been announced for Sept. 12-16. I designed the new look and launched the website recently.

Slave Lake Book Auction

Recent wildfires in Alberta destroyed nearly half of the town of Slave Lake, including the newly completed, 18-month-old library. This Globe & Mail article sums up the library’s history, renovation, and devastation. It’s hard to imagine that loss to a community and it makes me teary-eyed just thinking about it.

Slave Lake (Alberta) library burning during wildfire on May 15, 2011

The library is accepting donations of books less than 2 years old, but they also need money for computers, furniture, construction, etc. So Colleen McKie, a Canadian living on the East Coast, has organized the Slave Lake Book Auction. Go bid (just not against me) for a good cause!

Featured Reader at House of Anansi Press

Check it out!! I’m the Featured Reader over at the House of Anansi Press for June 2011.

Trish tweeted that they were looking for a blogger/reader to feature for June and I jumped at the chance. I am so honoured and excited.

I love House of Anansi Press — they produce wonderful books, have gorgeous designs, and authors/illustrators/reviewers/employees all seem to have nothing but good things to say. While I may not love every book I read that has been published by Anansi, I love the diversity of their titles and the variety in their subject matter.

Thank you Trish & Anansi!

City of Vancouver Archives have been digitized

This is just a really neat local accomplishment. As part of Vancouver125—the City of Vancouver’s 125th birthday celebrations—the archives have successfully digitized their complete collection.

My friend Jason (of Illustrated Vancouver fame) was at the launch party a while ago where they were giving away all their duplicate prints (keeping only the originals). Now I have a lovely selection too, including trains and long-since-demolished buildings. I think they shall become art.

More Art / Home Décor / Crafty Projects

Speaking of art and home decor, I have been working very hard on several home improvement projects, including some IkeaHacks. I’ve been photographing the projects so I can hopefully post some DIYs soon.

My knitting has been unmotivated but I’m chugging away on a design idea. Although I might be able to share some of the stash additions… I don’t know if I’ve already updated on those.

I really want to sew summer skirts and have recently dug out my patterns and fabric. You can really tell what kind of skirts I tend to gravitate towards by looking at my sewing patterns. Speaking of sewing, I do have some finished items to share, but I need to take photos with the recipient, so those are on the back-burner.

Reading Updates

I have been utterly absorbed in Diana Gabaldon’s Outlander series. I’ve had to force-ably remove myself from it and take a breather. I’m reading other books (I’m a few behind in reviews) but I’m constantly thinking—even dreaming—about the Outlander story. It’s true what Diana says, no one ever gets over Jamie Fraser…. *swoon*

SlutWalk Toronto is a rally that began in response to the victim-blaming that occurs throughout society in response to rape and sexual abuse. The tipping point was when Constable Michael Sanguinetti of the Toronto Police Service advised women at York University to “not dress like sluts” to avoid getting sexually assaulted. Unfortunately this is not an isolated incident. In Manitoba, Judge Robert Dewar sentenced a rapist only to house arrest attributing it to the way the victim was dressed and behaved.

If this victim-blaming occurs in Canada, where we have a strange reputation for ‘politeness’, I dread to think what is happening in other countries around the world. Many women have it worse than us living in First World countries, but I strongly believe that action starts at home. Blaming victims of a sex crime—in any country—just doesn’t sit right with me.

A fantastic article was circulated last week (I saw it on Facebook and Twitter) about what would happen if we blamed the victims of other crimes. Do we blame people who are robbed for having expensive items in their home? Do we blame people who are the victims of credit card fraud or identity theft? No! Because that would be ridiculous.

So, this Sunday, May 15, 2011, I will be participating in SlutWalk Vancouver because “whatever I wear, it is never an invitation for sexual objectification, sexual harassment or sexual abuse. Never.”¹

When I saw a tweet saying Speaker Submissions were open, I figured that I shouldn’t waste any more time being shy. I pitched a session… and it was accepted!

Altruism vs Narcisscism: what’s in it for the online reviewer?

Bloggers are gaining more authority when it comes to products and entertainment, but there are challenges we face as “non-traditional” media.

This panel—featuring a parent blogger, book blogger, movie reviewer and an Elite Yelp-er—will discuss the ins-and-outs of review blogging, beginning with how to get started and addressing a number of topics such as including/omitting spoilers, making your blog stand out, handling a negative review, working with companies, and more.

PANELISTS: Parent blogger, Nicole Christen; Book Blogger, myself; Movie Reviewer, Marina Antues; Elite Yelper, Krysten Jensen. Session takes place on Saturday during Northern Voice 2011.

Technically I am moderating the panel, but my book blogging background is what led me to be interested in online reviews. I’m excited and nervous at the same time. Our session is the last slot of the day on Saturday. The whole panel had a gathering on Skype already to discuss the session and I feel like we have a really good energy.

I’m looking forward to the entire Northern Voice conference (all day Friday and Saturday) but especially looking forward to our panel!

But what I’ve also become interested in, is the chemicals and synthetic ingredients we cover ourselves in daily — deodorant, hand cream, toothpaste, shampoo, soap, laundry detergent, even feminine hygiene products are bleached.

Some of the issues that concern me:

• Known chemicals seeping into my body. For example, formaldehyde is in some makeup products. Yes, embalming fluid.
• Chemicals washing into the ocean or other natural water sources, contaminating animal habitats and drinking water
• Sensitivity issues to ‘parfum‘ and fragrance in products
• Unknown effects of chemicals. For example, bisphenol-A (BPA) and parabens have been linked to cancer.

Finding Out What’s in My About Cosmetic Chemicals

First step was to educate myself. This involved a lot of reading from reputable sources. I relied mostly on local health magazines, or websites with a healthy focus. I know that some people feel the “granola-eating, organic hippies” blow things out of proportion, but with proper journalism, you need to credit your information sources. These are not scare tactics, they are just facts.

The David Suzuki Foundation is dedicated to protecting the earth we live on. Such a simple mandate allows them to take a broad approach to activism. They’ve published a report called The Dirty Dozen, which lists 12 chemicals commonly found in cosmetics and beauty products.

A really interesting video is called The Story of Stuff: Cosmetics. And although it only discusses the USA, many things still apply to Canada. They really address the backwards way the personal care industry operates and how we need to change. We need to get the governments involved to regulate the restrictions for companies.

A recent report indicated that kids today are born pre-polluted (which gives a new meaning to Lady Gaga’s song, Born this Way). Tests from umbilical cords showed Teflon, lead, mercury and even pesticides.

These things may seem small compared to the radiation that the Fukushima 50 are being exposed to… but I can’t do anything about that radiation. However, I can begin at home and focus on toxins we willingly allow into our bodies on a daily basis.

Changes I’m Making

This is the part that I’m finding the most difficult; finding reputable and affordable products. Fortunately, I have discovered some gems.

Rocky Mountain Soap Company are my go-to-shop for soap, hand cream, lipbalm and even deodorant. Every product I’ve used has been incredible, save for the deodorant. I find the roll-on crystal deodorant a little hit or miss, literally. I have to make sure I get total coverage and let it dry totally without rubbing any off on clothes or skin. However, when I manage this, I don’t smell at all during the day, yet I’m still able to perspire safely (the difference between deodorants and antiperspirants).

I just picked up some all-natural shampoo and conditioner. Most of the stuff I found online was super expensive. Whole Foods / Capers carries a line called Prairie Naturals that my friend recommended. I ended up picking up the brand Aura at the salon for nearly the same as drugstore prices. One of the co-founders of Aveda started making it after they sold Aveda to Estée Lauder in 1997. My stylist was saying that Aveda has gone slowly downhill in terms of their original all-natural formulas.

More Research Needed

• Laundry detergent. I don’t like fragrances and I want something that is biodegradable once it’s done its job.
• Toothpaste. This is more difficult because my dentist says I need to use ProNamel or Sensodyne. I may have to concede on this point depending on the ingredients in those brands.
• Feminine hygiene products. Some have suggest the DivaCup or all-natural pads and tampons similar to natural/recycled toilet paper and paper towels.
• Shaving gel. I suppose I could just lather up soap, or use the men’s shaving soap that Rocky Mountain has…

Resources I’ve Found

• The Dirty Dozen from the David Suzuki Foundation
• More information on chemicals in all types of body care products
• Want to find out if your products contain a toxic chemical? Check the Skin Deep, the cosmetic safety database
• Read Gill Deacon’s new book, There’s Lead in Your Lipstick: Toxins in our Everyday Body Care and How to Avoid Them. There is even a handy little wallet card that you can download (or pick up at your favourite all-natural store).
• Health Canada report on formaldehyde in hair products
• Sign the petition for smarter regulations of chemicals in cosmetics [On hiatus during Canadian federal election]
• Follow The David Suzuki Foundation’s Queen of Green on Twitter or read the Queen of Green blog
• Check out the Environmental Defence (Canada) or the Environmental Working Group (USA) for reliable information
• Check out the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics (one of the supporters of The Story of Stuff video)

Do you have any favourite resources or products? What should I check out?

I had always considered the prices at CSN Stores a little steep (with the shipping to Canada) compared to what I could find locally. I had recently moved so I thought maybe I should splurge on a good reading chair or some awesome lamp for craftwork. However, when I realized how sore my neck and upper back were from being unsupported when reading, I decided to get a foam reading wedge.

As for price, I contacted a few local stores and generally a plain foam wedge (no cover) about the same size sells for about $40-50.

• CSN Stores — $99 with neck bolster & cover
• Sears — $75, with cover
• Chiropractor/Medical Supply stores — $50, with cover
• Mattress store — $44, just foam
• Bed Bath & Beyond — $40, with cover (much smaller)
• WalMart — $38.88, with cover

However, the thing that I liked about the reading wedge from CSN is that it has a removeable cover (with zipper) as well as a neck bolster with cover. This way, once my cat covers it in fur, I can just toss it in the wash.

I just wish it came in different colours than quilted white… it reminds me of toilet paper.

I have been keeping this on the couch and been using it for reading, playing on the laptop, and even writing in notebooks. I didn’t realize how badly I was straining my back trying to do all these “lap” activities hunched over.

I especially like that the small neck bolster can be detached (velcro) and I can place it anywhere I need it. As you can see, you can either arrange it low or high. Occasionally I even used the neck bolster on my lower back (at my computer chair) and under my knees (when sleeping)

KATE BLOOMFIELD from Hey World, Here I Am by Jean Little

Hey World, Here I Am was one of the first books of poetry I remember reading and relating to. The musings on writing, being an artist, friendship, differences, and family all struck me very personally. Kate writes the poems in her personal diary and I love the honesty in her poetry and the truths she ponders.

I still enjoy reading the poems and stories in this short book. In fact, it got me started reading more by Jean Little, a well-known Canadian author who writes for young adults.

CHARLOTTE DOYLE from The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle by Avi

If someone had to ask me my favourite book of my childhood, I would probably say, “The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle, hands down”. Heck, I even want to name my first-born daughter “Charlotte” because of the strength and integrity of this character.

The adventure begins when she is on a crossing to England and the Captain isn’t quite the gentleman he was portrayed to be and the crew is on the verge of mutiny. Avi paints an incredible adventure and sticks Charlotte in a situation where the outcome will determine the course of her life. I love Charlotte Doyle and when I was growing up I wanted to be her so badly.

FLAVIA de LUCE from the Buckshaw Chronicles by Alan Bradley

Alan Bradley’s protagonist, Flavia, in The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie, The Weed that Strings the Hangman’s Bag, and the latest, A Red Herring Without Mustard is absolutely charming.

A precocious 10-year-old, Flavia balances her time between the chemistry lab, torturing her older sisters, and solving murders she somehow ends up in the thick of. Her insatiable curiosity is refreshing, relate-able and makes for an enjoyable story. Alan Bradley managed to get the voice of Flavia quite perfectly: you can tell she’s still a child yet has a wisdom beyond her years.

KATNISS EVERDEEN from the Hunger Games trilogy by Suzanne Collins

Katniss from The Hunger Games series is not without her faults, but I think that’s what makes her character so real. From the moment we meet Katniss, you know she is like no other girl in District 12; she hunts, she fishes, she disobeys the rules… but all of it is to feed and support her family. Working with her best friend, we learn her values very early on and as the story develops she becomes even stronger in her opinions and views. I think this is an incredible portrait to paint for young girls (unlike the passive “save me” attitude of Bella in Twilight).

My favourite book is probably the first, The Hunger Games, I think that Catching Fire was an incredible strong sequel, and although I have some issues with the final book, Mockingjay, Katniss’ character throughout is resolute.

KAHLAN AMNELL from the Sword of Truth series by Terry Goodkind
[pictured: Confessor is the final book in the series]

The Sword of Truth series by Terry Goodkind is a huge series spanning 11 books. The two main characters are Richard and Kahlan and I was just starting book blogging in 2008 when I finished reading the series. Terry Goodkind has a huge cast of characters but the thing that I love about Kahlan and most of Goodkind’s female characters is their strength. (Do you sense a theme here with my blog post?)

Kahlan has the weight of the new world on her shoulders. In the first book she is sent to find Richard’s grandfather, a wizard, to help save the world from Darken Rahl. This is only the cataclyst for an entire war, which Kahlan leads with determination. In her world, she is the last Confessor, who are highly regarded for their powers and abilities. I love that this role is held by a woman, and that even when Kahlan experiences amnesia, she still has the same core values.

More books with strong female protagonists:

• An integral book to my childhood games was Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O’Dell
• The Millenium Trilogy by Stieg Larsson starring Lisbeth Salander. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, The Girl Who Played with Fire & The Girl Who Kicked The Hornet’s Nest
• All four Ya-Yas from The Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood by Rebecca Wells
• Another staple of my childhood was The Guests of War trilogy by Kit Pearson

What books/female characters would you suggest??